Xcopy For Mac

Xcopy For Mac Average ratng: 7,0/10 5967 votes

In the windows world I would use xcopy. Specifically, I'm copying 300gb of home directories as a backup before I do an update on the OS. I won't have time. Is there a file copy utility for OS X that's similar to TeraCopy for Windows? Ask Question Asked 9 years, 1 month ago. Active 1 year, 7 months ago. If you can treat the Mac drive as an external drive, like a NAS, and do the copy from a windows machine, file pilot copy would work for you.

Xcopy is a more robust version of the copy command with additional features. It is capable of moving files, directories, and even whole drives from one location to another.

Tip

Users running recent versions of Windows should consider using robocopy instead of xcopy.

Availability

Xcopy is an external command that is available for the following Microsoft operating systems as xcopy.exe.

Xcopy syntax

Windows 2000, XP, and later syntax and switches

Note

Only Windows Vista and later, includes the [/B] and [/J] options.

source	Specifies the source of the file(s) to copy.
destination	Specifies the destination location or name of the new files.
/A	Copies only files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
/M	Copies only files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute.
/D:m-d-y	Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/EXCLUDE:file1 [+file2][+file3]..	Specifies a list of files containing strings. When any of the strings match any part of the absolute file path to be copied, that file is excluded from being copied. For example, specifying a string like obj or .obj will exclude all files underneath the directory obj or all files with the .obj extension respectively.
/P	Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S	Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E	Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones. Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/V	Verifies each new file.
/W	Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C	Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I	If the destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q	Does not display file names while copying.
/F	Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L	Displays files that would be copied.
/H	Copies hidden and system files also.
/R	Overwrites read-only files.
/T	Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories.
/U	Copies only files that already exist in destination.
/K	Copies attributes. Normal xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/N	Copies using the generated short names.
/O	Copies file ownership and ACL information.
/X	Copies file audit settings (implies /O).
/Y	Suppresses prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.
/-Y	Causes prompting to confirm you want to overwrite an existing destination file.
/Z	Copies networked files in restartable mode.
/B	Copies the symbolic link itself versus the target of the link.
/J	Copies using unbuffered I/O. We recommend for very large files.

The switch /Y may be preset in the COPYCMD environment variable that can be overridden with /-Y on the command line.

Windows 98 and older syntax and switches

Copies files and directory trees.

source	Specifies the file(s) to copy.
destination	Specifies the location or name of new files.
/A	Copies files with the archive attribute set, doesn't change the attribute.
/M	Copies files with the archive attribute set, turns off the archive attribute.
/D:date	Copies files changed on or after the specified date. If no date is given, copies only those files whose source time is newer than the destination time.
/P	Prompts you before creating each destination file.
/S	Copies directories and subdirectories except empty ones.
/E	Copies directories and subdirectories, including empty ones. Same as /S /E. May be used to modify /T.
/W	Prompts you to press a key before copying.
/C	Continues copying even if errors occur.
/I	If the destination does not exist and copying more than one file, assumes that destination must be a directory.
/Q	Does not display file names while copying.
/F	Displays full source and destination file names while copying.
/L	Displays files that would be copied.
/H	Copies hidden and system files also.
/R	Overwrites read-only files.
/T	Creates directory structure, but does not copy files. Does not include empty directories or subdirectories. /T /E includes empty directories and subdirectories.
/U	Updates the files that already exist in destination.
/K	Copies attributes. Normal xcopy will reset read-only attributes.
/Y	Overwrites existing files without prompting.
/-Y	Prompts you before overwriting existing files.
/N	Copy using the generated short names.

Xcopy examples

In the example above, the xcopy command copies all the files (including hidden ones) in the current directory into the hope directory.

In the example above, is the basic xcopy command to copy the files, directories, and subdirectories in the temp directory to the current directory.

In the example above, the xcopy command would copy all files and directories in the user 'hope' directory to the current directory.

In the example above, the xcopy command copies all directories (even empty directories) and files from the hope directory into the example directory.

The command above copies everything located on the H drive to the current directory.

Xcopy questions and answers

Getting Invalid number of parameters error

This error occurs when the command you're entering has spaces in it. When typing a directory with spaces in MS-DOS, make sure to surround the path with quotes. For example, instead of typing: c:documents and settings type 'c:documents and settings' at the prompt.

Cannot perform a cyclic copy

This error occurs when you're trying to copy directories that contain the destination directory. If this command were to be allowed, it would get into a loop and would never stop copying. When using the xcopy command, if you copy all directories and subdirectories the destination has to be a completely separate directory or drive.

Parse error

This error occurs when the command you're typing in has invalid syntax. Generals zero hour download torrent. For example, if you're surrounding your path in quotes and leave out the ending quotes.

I attempted to use the above xcopy command and was not able to copy all files within my favorites folder

After further examination, Computer Hope also encountered this issue. However, we were able to copy the majority of all favorites by using the command below. Also, consider using robocopy.

We are under the impression this issue is generated because of the way that Internet Explorer saves the URL (favorite) using long file names with extended characters.

What is xcopy32?

Xcopy32 was a command available with Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows 98. Although it can be run by itself, it is executed automatically when xcopy is used on a 32-bit file system like FAT32. For early 16-bit file systems that had both xcopy and xcopy32, the xcopy command is used. If you're trying to decide to run xcopy or xcopy32, always use xcopy.

Additional information

See our copy definition for further information and related links on this term.

Migration Assistant copies all of your files to your new Mac so that you don't have to copy your files manually.

If your files are currently on a Windows PC, follow the PC migration steps instead.
If your new Mac is using OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 or earlier, follow the Mountain Lion migration steps instead.

Check software, settings, and power

Install all available Apple software updates on both Mac computers. Install any updates for your third-party apps as well.
Make sure that your old Mac is using OS X Lion or later.
Make sure that your old Mac has a computer name: Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Sharing and check the Computer Name field.
Connect both computers to AC power.

Connect the computers to each other

If both computers are using macOS Sierra or later, just make sure that they're near each other and have Wi-Fi turned on. If either is using OS X El Capitan or earlier, connect them to the same network using Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
Or connect them using target disk mode and the appropriate cable or adapter. Then start up your old computer in target disk mode.
Or connect your new Mac to a Time Machine backup of your old Mac.

Use Migration Assistant

On your new Mac:

Open Migration Assistant, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder.
Click Continue.
When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk.
Click Continue.

On your old Mac:
If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these four steps.

Open Migration Assistant.
Click Continue.
When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer to another Mac.
Click Continue.

On your new Mac:

When asked to select a Mac, Time Machine backup, or other startup disk, click the appropriate icon.
Click Continue. You might see a security code.

On your old Mac:
If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these two steps.

If you see a security code, make sure that it's the same code as on your new Mac.
Click Continue.

On your new Mac:

You should see a list of backups organized by date and time. Choose the backup that you want to use.
Click Continue.

Continuing on your new Mac:

Select the information to transfer.
Click Continue to start the transfer. If you have a lot of content, the transfer might take several hours to finish.

In the example above, John Appleseed is a macOS user account. If you transfer an account that has the same name as an account on your new Mac, you're asked to rename the old account or replace the one on your new Mac. If you rename, the old account appears as a separate user on your new Mac, with a separate home folder and login. If you replace, the old account overwrites the account on your new Mac, including everything in its home folder.

After Migration Assistant is done, log in to the migrated account on your new Mac to see its files. If you're not keeping your old Mac, learn what to do before you sell, give away, or trade in your old Mac.